Liquid heater and storage means

ABSTRACT

A portable liquid container and heater unit that will conveniently and quickly provide heated liquid. The unit combines a heater housing assembly in which liquid is heated and a detachable liquid storage reservoir. A gas burner assembly uses fuel supplied from a pressurized gas cylinder to generate heat that is passed through tubes extending through a reservoir in the heater housing. A handle is provided to carry the unit, and the unit is lightweight, compact and made rugged so that it can be carried without damage in the storage compartment of a snowmobile or the like.

States Patent [191 fie Williams 3,29l,ll2 l2/l966 Springer..i............i.i.........l26/344X {54] LIQUID HEATER AND STORAGE MEANS Inventor:

[76] Garold R. Williams, 43 West 100 j" Sprague South, Smithfield, Utah 84335 Cnddle July 22, 1971 Appl. No.: 165,015

[57] ABSTRACT A portable liquid container and heater unit that will [22] Filed:

conveniently and quickly provide heated liquid. The unit combines a heater housing assembly in which liquid is heated and a detachable liquid storage reser- [52] US. Cl...................122/l4,126/344,126/350 R [51] Int. 9/02 ..l22/l4, 23; 126/344, 350 R;

[58] Field of Search..... voir. A gas burner assembly uses fuel supplied from a 431/344 pressurized gas cylinder to generate heat that is passed extending through a reservoir in the through tubes heater housing. A handle is provided to carry the unit,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS and the unit is lightweight, compact and made rugged so that it can be carried without damage in the storage S k m l u e .m m F r. g o .m w m m m 4 w s m m a m f O 5 t n e m t r a D. m 0 C XXX 400 455 333 //l 66 322 All 1 LIQUID HEATER AND STORAGE MEANS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION for use by campers, snowmobilers, or other such persons.

2. Prior Art There has long been a need for a liquid heater which is simple in its construction and operation and that will operate reliably even after being subjected to rough handling.

My co-periding application for US. Pat. Ser. No. 14,045, filed Feb. 25, 1970, discloses an instant water heater which is suitable for use by tent campers or owners of mobile camp trailers and truck-camper combinations. The water heating unit disclosed in that application includes a pump and is useful for many purposes. However, there remains a need for a compact unit that can store and carry either hot or cold liquids, that can rapidly arid easily provide heating of the liquids, and that does not use a pump that can become inoperative and that adds to the cost of the unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a liquid heating device having lightweight, durable components arranged to be able to withstand rough treatment and still perform properly a liquid heating function.

Another object is to provide a water heating device having at least a pair of reservoirs one of which serves as a heating reservoir and the other of which is attachable to form a compact storage and transport unit, but that is detachable for separate use or its contents are poured into the heating reservoir.

Still another object is to provide a simplified, pressurized gas cylinder mounting and gas feed assembly for the liquid heater. The assembly maintains a cylinder of fuel gas such that it can be tapped, as desired, to provide a fuel for a burner assembly beneath the heating reservoir.

Principal features of the invention include a liquid heating device having a reservoir with heating tubes extending upwardly therethrough and a burner assembly arranged therebeneath. The reservoir housing has a pressurized gas cylinder mounted exteriorly thereof and a spout extending from a wall of the housing at the top thereof.

The burner assembly is of simple construction and a burnable gas is supplied to the burner apparatus through a feed line that is connected to a gas feed assembly contained in a gas cylinder mounting assembly fixed to the side wall of the liquid heater.

The gas cylinder mounting assembly includes a screw type actuator means that, when turned, will force the self-sealing end of a pressurized gas cylinder onto a ho]- low needle that serves as a valve. The pressurized gas from the cylinder then flows through the needle and through the feed line to the burner assembly, where it is ignited.

A liquid storage reservoir is releasably attached to the housing of the heating reservoir and provides means for storage of either the same or an additional liquid.

A cap, provided to cover the spout, is removed prior to heating of liquid in the heating reservoir to avoid a pressure build up therein.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention taken from above and slightly to one side, and showing in the storage reservoir detached from the liquid heater in broken lines;

FIG. 2 a vertical section view, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary perspective view taken within the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and partially broken away to show the needle valve; and I FIG. 4, a view like that of FIG. 3, but taken within the line 44 of FIG. I, and showing the gas feed actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the liquid heater storage means of the invention is shown generally at 10 and consists of a liquid heating reservoir assembly 11 and a storage reservoir assembly 12. Reservoir assembly 12 has a housing with a wall 12a from which a tab 13 projects downwardly. The tab 13 is adapted to be inserted downwardly through a hanger bracket 14, FIG. 2, on the wall 11a of the heating reservoir assembly 1 1. When the tab 13 is fully inserted into the bracket 14 a pin 15 also projecting from the wall 11a of assembly 11 extends through a hole l7 in the wall 12a of assembly 12. A spring clip 18 is adapted to be inserted through a hole 19 in the end of pin 15, thereby holding assembly 12 on the pin and holding the assemblies 11 and 12 releasably locked together.

A bottom 20 is spaced above the lowermost end of wall 11a to close the bottom of reservoir assembly 1 1. The space beneath bottom 20 thus accommodates a burner assembly 21, and holes 22 through the lower portion of wall 1 la allow entry of sufficient air to insure proper combustion at the burner assembly.

A plurality of heat conductive tubes 23, of different sizes, extend through bottom 20, upwardly through the reservoir 24- formedin reservoir assembly 11 and through the top 25 of the reservoir assembly. 4

A spout 26 projects upwardly and outwardly from the upper portion of wall and provides a means whereby liquid is poured into and out of reservoir 24. Spout 25 is preferably covered by a frictionally secured, removable cap 26a to prevent undesired loss of water from reservoir 24 and to prevent contamination of the water in the reservoir.

A handle 27 extends upwardly from top 25 of the reservoir assembly 11 to facilitate carrying of the liquid heater and storage means 10. I

The burner assembly 21 comprises a burner bowl 29 tangentially mounted on one end of a gas feed line 30.

A short air feed line 31 surrounds line 30 and also extends into the bowl so that as gas is fed through line 30 air is entrained through line 31, thereby insuring a proper air-fuel mixture for efficient combustion. As the air-fuel mixture is burned in the bowl 29 the heat generated travels up through and heats the tubes 23, which are in contact with the contents of reservoir 24, thereby heating the reservoir contents. The burner assembly is of the same type disclosed more in detail in my co-pending application for US. Pat. Ser. No. 14,045, filed Feb. 25, 1970.

The other end of gas line 30 is connected to the hollow needle 32 through fitting 33 that is supported by the perforated upper end 340 of a sleeve 34. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the hollow needle 32 projects downwardly from the end 34a into sleeve 34 where it will penetrate the self-sealing cap of a pressurized gas cylinder, as will be further explained. A flange 34b is fixed to the lower end of sleeve 33 and to the housing of reservoir assembly 11 to hold the sleeve 33 in place.

The lower end of sleeve 33 is open anda bracket 35 extends thereacross. The bracket includes a rod 37 having one end 37a journaled through a hole 38 in flange 35 and one end 37b adapted to move into and out ofa slot 39 in the opposite side of flange 35. A plate 40 is welded to the top of rod 37 and a bolt 41 is threaded through plate 40 and a nut 42 thereon. Bolt 41 has a knob 43 on the lower end thereof and the bolt head 44 on the other end.

In operation, the bracket 36 is moved by releasing the end 37b of rod 37 from slot 39 and pivoting the rod within the hole 38 until the bracket will allow a pressurized gas cylinder (not shown) to be inserted upwardly within sleeve 33. Thereafter bracket 36 is again moved to position it beneath the pressurized .gas cylinder and such that the :end 37b of rod 37 is within slot 39. Gravity then holds the pressurized container on the head 44, and below the hollow needle 32, until the knob 43 is turned to move the bolt 41 up, thereby forcing the self-sealing top of the cylinder onto the needle. When the needle has penetrated the self-sealing lid of the cylinder gas flows therefrom into line 30. As the gas movesthrough line 30 air is entrained through air feed line 31 and when the gas-air mixture reaches the burner bowl it may be ignited with a match inserted through a port 45 provided therefor in the lower wall of the housing of heating reservoir 1 1. When the knob 43 is turned to move the bolt out of sleeve 33 the pressurized container again drops away from the hollow needle and the self-sealing top of the storage reservoir assembly 12 has a cap 47 threaded thereon and provides a means whereby the reservoir within the assembly can be filled and emptied.

Although a preferred form of my invention has been herein described, it is to be understood thatthe present disclosure is made by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the scope of the hereinafter claimed subject matter, which subject matter I regard as my invention.

I claim:

l. A portable liquid container and heater unit comprising a liquid storage housing constituting a reservoir wherein liquid is stored, having a scalable opening therethrough, whereby the reservoir is filled and emptied;

a heater housing assembly comprising a housing having a reservoir formed therewithin, a burner assembly beneath the reservoir, tubes extending throng? the reservoir from the burner assembly, where y heat generated at the burner assembly is claim l,wherein the means for releasably locking the liquid storage housing to the heater housing comprises a hanger bracket on one of said housings;

a downwardly extending tab on the other of said housings adapted to be inserted downwardly into the hanger bracket;

a pin on one of said housings;

a hole through the housing not containing the pin, the pin being aligned with and insertable through said hole when said tab is inserted into the hanger bracket; and

means for releasably locking said pin in said hole.

3. A portable liquid container and heater unit as in claim 1, wherein the means to control flow from a pressurized gas container to the burner assembly comprises a downwardly pointed hollow needle supported by the heater housing;

a gas line connected to the upper end of the needle and to the burner assembly;

a bracket to support the pressurized gas container beneath the needle; and

screw means beneath the needle to support the gas container and to move it onto the needle. I

4. A portable liquid container and heater unit as in claim 3, wherein the means for releasably locking the liquid storage housing to the heater housing comprises a hanger bracket on one of said housings;

a downwardly extending tab on the other. of said housings adapted to be inserted downwardly into the hanger bracket;

a pin on one of said housings;

a hole through the housing not containing the pin, the pin being aligned with and insertable through said hole when said tab is inserted into the hanger bracket; and means for releasably locking said pin in said hole.

5. A portable liquid container and heater as inclaim 5, further including I a rod supporting said screw means,'said rod extending between opposite sides of the bracket and being journaled in one side thereof and releasably secured at the other end thereof.

l it i i I. 

1. A portable liquid container and heater unit comprising a liquid storage housing constituting a reservoir wherein liquid is stored, having a sealable opening therethrough, whereby the reservoir is filled and emptied; a heater housing assembly comprising a housing having a reservoir formed therewithin, a burner assembly beneath the reservoir, tubes extending through the reservoir from the burner assembly, whereby heat generated at the burner assembly is passed through the tubes to heat the contents of the reservoir formed within the heater housing; means for releasably locking the liquid storage housing to the heater housing assembly; and means for supplying pressurized gas to the burner assembly, said latter means comprising a pressurized gas container holder and means to control flow from a pressurized gas container to said burner assembly.
 2. A portable liquid container and heater unit as in claim 1, wherein the means for releasably locking the liquid storage housing to the heater housing comprises a hanger bracket on one of said housings; a downwardly extending tab on the other of said housings adapted to be inserted downwardly into the hanger bracket; a pin on one of said housings; a hole through the housing not containing the pin, the pin being aligned with and insertable through said hole when said tab is inserted into the hanger bracket; and means for releasably locking said pin in said hole.
 3. A portable liquid container and heater unit as in claim 1, wherein the means to control flow from a pressurized gas container to the burner assembly comprises a downwardly pointed hollow needle supported by the heater housing; a gas line connected to the upper end of the needle and to the burner assembly; a bracket to support the pressurized gas container beneath the needle; and screw means beneath the needle to support the gas container and to move it onto the needle.
 4. A portable liquid container and heater unit as in claim 3, wherein the means for releasably locking the liquid storage housing to the heater housing comprises a hanger bracket on one of said housings; a downwardly extending tab on the other of said housings adapted to be inserted downwardly into the hanger bracket; a pin on one of said housings; a hole through the housing not containing the pin, the pin being aligned with and insertable through said hole when said tab is inserted into the hanger bracket; and means for releasably locking said pin in said hole.
 5. A portable liquid container and heater as in claim 5, further including a rod supporting said screw means, said rod extending between opposite sides of the bracket and being journaled in one side thereof and releasably secured at the other end thereof. 